Splashing water makes a happy sound. Whether it’s the rhythm of raindrops or the song of a fountain, it soothes the spirit. Our fascination with this vital element begins the first time we put our bare feet in a puddle. And what child can resist a well-placed sprinkler on a hot summer day? We simply can’t help our love affair with water.

Now we’re busy adults and have forgotten about those magical properties water holds. “Everyone talks about stress and anxiety levels going up, and we seem to be connected to the world almost too much through our PDAs and computers,” offers Dr. Corey Keyes, associate professor of sociology at Emory University. “For me, the most compelling reason for a water garden is that it brings you into the moment. It helps you unplug from an increasingly stressful world.”